Walking figure



Feb. 17. 1925.

P. WENZEL WALKING FIGURE Filed Dec. 4, 1923 3mm 1%!!! 116mm] 61 was To all whom it may concern:

Patented Febi 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

PAUL WENZEL, or MILWAUKEE, wrsconsm.

WALKING 1 FIGURE.

Applicationfiled December 4 1923. Serial No. 878,497.

Be it known that 1, PAUL VVENZEL, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and, Stat'eof lvlsconsm, have nvented certain new and useful Improvemepts in Valking Figures, of which the follo\-ving 1s a specificatlon.

This invention relates to theatrical or.

showmans apparatus and more particularly to a'walkmg figure.

The invention consists mainly in the provision of a figure 'meehanically connected.

to the body of the operator so that in operation the figure simulates walking or run-- ning. The impression given is that of a figure chasing the 'operatoiythe connections between the figure and operator being such that the figure, participates in most of the running and walking actions.

. The details of construction of the'inveu tion will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of awalk;

ing figur e, constructed in accordance with; this mve'nt1on;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentar view, partly in section; H I a .Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the sup porting harness.

skeleton, the figure being constructed pre't- "backward, these hinges consistin recesses 17, forme Referrin now particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indieate like parts, it will be noted that the figure is constructed to represent a human erabl of cork or otlier similar light nont'ragi'l e material, the figure including a backbone 10;, to the base .11 of which there is connected :1. pair of legs 12, arms 13 being connected to the shoulder portions of th skeleton.

The thigh portions 14, 'of each leg, are

- connected to the body by 'mean's of hinges 15, whereby the thighportions'are capable of swinging movement both forward grid pre erably of leather-bin e members .16 ttedinto the thigh portions 14 and the base 11." Connection between the thigh portions 14 and the lower leg portions '18, is provided by flexible hinge members 19, so arranged as to permit a. swinging movement of the lower in the adj acent' ends of leg portions only in one direction. The

feet 20 are connected to the lower leg portions 18 by hinges 21,,simil'ar to the hinge connections at the hips ot' the skeleton.

The arms 13 are hingedly connected as at 22 to-the forearm portions of the anus 13, so as to swing in two directions, hinge members 23 being arranged at the elbows and hinge members 24 at the shouh'ler connections. Resilient cord-like men'ibers .25 extend from the wrist portions to points .adjac'ent'the shoulder hinges and resiliently hold the arms bent in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. However, during the. walking or running movements of the figure, these resilient suspending members and the hinge connections at the joints of the arm permit the arms to more in a manner simulating the action ot the arms of a human being when running .or walking.

The neck 26 is hingedly connected to the head 27. as at 28, and the jaw 29 ot' the:

by means of straps 35, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. A set screw 36 provides means for detachabl connecting the rod 32 to the frame, t is rod preferably passing through the breastbone of the skeleton and into the backbone or spinethereot. A supplemental supporting member, in the form of a wire 37 ,is detachably connected, as at 38, to the upper end of the member 33, and

passes through the breastbone of the skeleton, and is also connected to the backbone lOthereofa Connected to each of the legs 12 immediately adjacent the kneehinges thereof is an operating flexible member 39, which is preferably in the form of a thin wire. Each of these operating wires'is provided with a loop 40 through 'which the arm of the operator may be inserted, as suggested orted in an upright in Fig. 1, so'that as the operator runs orwalks, and. consequently swings his arms, the legs of the skeleton will be lifted clear of the groundand moved in a forward position and then permitted to again engage the ground, whereupon they will bG IllOVQd rearwardly because of their en agement with the round and the torwart movement of the figure, thus sii'nulating the walking or running, as will be immediately apparent.

" Thus it will be obvious that as the operator walks or runs, the figure will participate in a movement simulating the movement of the operator's bodyf The weight of the figure is supported mainly, and the figure maintained in an upright position, bymeans of the supporting rod '32 and flexible member 37, as will be obvious, so that a movement of the peratoi"s arms will. by reason of the flexible connection to the legs of the figure, move the same. as though the figure were walking or running. Obviously, the arms will, because of the movement of the manner of the movenwnts ot' a human beings arms, while walking or running, but will be maintained substantially in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 by means of the resilient members 25. The head will also move relatively to the shoulders, by means of its hinge connection thereto, and as mentioned, the, jaw will be causedto open and close.

W hile the invention has been described in some detail as embodying a figure representing a-human skeleton, still it will be immediately apparent thatthe iuvei'ition -maybe applied with equal facility to other types of figures, and that the figures need notv necessarily simulate human figures.

Therefore, I reserve the right to make such changes as may comewith'in the purview of the aegompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is:

1.111 an arrangement of the character described, afigure provided with jointed legs; means for supporting the figure spaced from the body of an ope 'ator and figure, move in a manner to resemble the means connected to the arms of the operator for actuating said jointed legs to simulate walking.

2. In an arrangement of the character described, a jointed figure including jointed legs, means including a body harness for supporting the same upon the/body of the operator and spaced therefrom and means ctnmected to the operator and controlled by him for causing the le 's ot' the figure to move'in a manner simulating walking.

3. ln an arrangement of the class described, a figure simulating a human figure includingjointed legs, a frame for supporting said figure in an upright position, means for connectin said frame to the body of the operator and exiblemeans connected to the arms of the-operator and to the 'ointed legs of the fi re for moving said legs in a manner simu ating walking,

4. In a theatrical device of the c iaracter described, a figure simulating a human figure including jointed legs, arms, neck and a hinged jaw, a frame for supporting said figure in an upright position, means for detachably connecting said frame to the body of the operator and flexible connections between the arms of-the operator and the legs of the figure, whereby when the arms of the operator are swung forwardly and rearwardly, the legs of the figure will be caused to move in amanner simulating PAUL WENZEL. 

